Health Insurance & Wellness Benefits

Postdoctoral Benefits Program

The Postdoctoral Benefits Program is administered through Gallagher Benefit Services and offers the following plans:

  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D)
  • Employee Assistance Program

Visit the Gallagher Benefit Services portal

All postdocs must either enroll in or waive the benefits; those wishing to enroll in the Benefits Program must do so within 30 days of their start date. 

If a postdoc chooses to enroll, the monthly single coverage premium must be paid for each Postdoc Scholar or Fellow¹ by the Principal Investigator (PI), grant, or department, or internal funds. Additional coverage levels (postdoc + 1 and postdoc + family) may also be paid for by PI/grant/department funds – this is at each PI’s discretion and contingent upon available funding. Any coverage level (beyond single) not being paid for by the PI will be charged to the postdoc and the premium will be taken out of their paycheck monthly.

* If you receive an unexpected bill for a service you believe should be covered, please contact the Postdoc Affairs Office or Gallagher Benefits Services to see if it can be covered under your plan. 

¹Paid Direct Postdocs (not receiving a paycheck from CWRU) pay all costs from their funding source and will be billed directly by Gallagher Benefit Services.


Benefits Reviews

Weekly on Wednesdays, the Postdoc Director hosts a 45-minute Benefits Review via Zoom. To schedule an initial Benefits Review (or a Refresher), email postdoc@case.edu. During the session we will discuss what is included in your Postdoc Benefits Plan, where to find care, the costs associated with certain services, and other resources available to our postdocs. 

While not mandatory, It is highly advisable to attend one of these sessions prior to signing up for your benefits. 

* New postdocs MUST enroll for benefits WITHIN 31 DAYS of their start date. 


Employee Assistance Program

Offered through IMPACT Solutions, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers the following services:

  • Mental Health Counseling - managing stress, anxiety, depression, resolving conflict, overcoming substance abuse, personal issues
  • Financial Consultation - budgeting, buying a home, paying off debt, managing taxes, saving for retirement, etc
  • Legal Consultation - get help with legal matters like estate planning, wills, real estate, bankruptcy, divorce, custody, and more
  • Life Coaching - Reaching personal or professional goals, managing life transitions, overcoming obstacles, strengthening relationships, etc
  • Referrals - Childcare, eldercare, adoption, special needs support, housing, transportation, education, pet care
  • Medical Advocacy - navigating insurance, securing medical equipment or transportation, planning for transition care and discharge

Sign up for the EAP on their website using the code 'postdocs'.

Support via phone is available 24/7 at 1.800.227.6007

Note: The Employee Assistance Program is also available free of charge for members of your household, dependents 26 and younger, as well as your parents and parents-in-law (domestically or abroad). 

Login or create an account

For more information, please visit the employee assistance page on the Human Resources website. The services are free and confidential; information is not reported back to CWRU.


Mental Health Resources

Reach Out CWRU App

Type "Reach Out CWRU" into your app store.

Someday you may need to reach out for help for a friend, loved one or for yourself. 

Be Prepared. 

CWRU's Reach Out app provides quick access to support and resources such as crisis hotlines, guidance for helping a friend in need coping skills and services offered on campus and in the community. 

T.H.I.N.K Training

T.H.I.N.K Training (Talk, Help, Identify Signs, Navigate Resources, Kindly Refer)

T.H.I.N.K. is a suicide prevention training to help people recognize warning signs and assist others who may be having suicidal thoughts. This training is available to all CWRU students, faculty, staff, and postdocs. Zoom link for virtual sessions will be sent after registration.


Health Emergency Fund

The university has created a Health Emergency Fund to provide resources for health emergency-related travel, lodging and care (including for emergency healthcare not available in Ohio). Postdoctoral scholars and fellows also are eligible to apply for this assistance.

To request assistance, log into myhealthconnect.case.edu, click "Messages" on the left column, then click the “New Message” box on the top of the main screen. Finally, select the "Student Health Emergency Fund" option on the following screen.


Reproductive Health Kits

Campus community members will be able to pick up free reproductive health kits that include condoms, pregnancy tests, Plan B and related items from the Flora Stone Mather Center for Women and LGBT Center (both in the Tinkham Veale University Center), the Office of Multicultural Affairs (Sears 409), the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (Tomlinson Hall 203) and the Department of Athletics (Veale Convocation, Recreation and Athletic Center).


Wellness Vending Machines

Campus community members will be able to access free cough drops, ibuprofen, condoms, pregnancy tests, Covid tests, and Plan B via Wellness Vending Machines.  To access the items, postdocs and students will need to swipe their university ID, but their specific selections will remain confidential. Locations with vending machines include Wade, Fribley, Samson Pavilion (HEC), the Tink (Tinkham Veale University Center), Peter B Lewis, Sears Library, Biomedical Research Building (BRB). 


Gyms and Intramural Sports

View information about Intramural Sports and access to the Veale Recreation Center and Wyant Athletic and Wellness Center


CWRU Reproductive Health / Resources

Information about Reproductive Health Services at CWRU can be found here